Conveyer



Jan. 21, 1930. 1 1, THEILE 1,744,286

CONVEYER Filed NOV. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 21, 1930. G. l. THE lLE 1,744,236

CONVEYER Filed Nov 9, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 zjwwmtoz iuw X M Patented Jan. 21, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE I. THEILE, OF HAMILTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE HOOVEN, OWENS, RENTSCH- LEE COMPANY, OF HAMILTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO CONVEYER Application filed November 9, 1925.

This invention relates to machinery for the manufacture of sugar, and has to do particularly with the carriers or conveyors by means of which bagasse passes from one set of crushing rolls to another.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide adjustable means whereby the inlet end of such a conveyer or carrier may be maintainedL in predetermined relationship with the upper and lower cooperating juice ex )re-ssing rolls.

urther objects and advantages of. the invention will be apparent, from the description thereof set out below when taken in connection with accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, in which like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views thereof,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, somewhat diagrammatic in character, of two adjacent sets of mill rolls, with a connecting carrier or conveyer having an adjustable inlet end embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of one end of the conveyor, and the cooperating mill rolls, to more clearly show the details of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view just inside of the mill housing looking across the conveyor; and

Fig. lis a vertical sectional view of a slightly modified form of construction.

As is well known, the greater part of the world supply of sugar is extracted from sugar cane. In the extraction of the juice in such ma uufacture of sugar the cane is passed through a succession of sets of heavy rolls under high pressure which squeeze the juice out of the stalks of cane. The resulting squeezed cane which is called bagasse, is passed. successively through the various sets or stands of rolls, the expressed juice running down from the rolls and being collected for subsequent treatment. Obviously some means must be provided for moving the bagasse Serial No. 67,918.

from one set of rolls to the next and in practice many different forms of conveyers or carriers to effect this transfer of the bagasse have been worked out. One well-known form of conveyor is that shown in the patent to Meineoke, No. 1,401,965 dated December 20,

1921, which comprises generally an inverted V-shaped trough or chute, with its opposite ends positioned 1n cooperatlve relation with the two sets of rolls between which the bar' traveling from the mill 10 to the mill 11. The

numeral 12 designates the trough-like conveyer, of inverted V-shape, through which the bagasse is moved from the mill 10 to the mill 11.

As shown particularly in Fig. 2 the mill 10 comprises three mill rolls 15, 16 and 17, the cane or bagasse to be acted on by the mill passing in between the rolls 15 and 16, and thence outwardly through the rolls 16 and 17 in a conventional manner. veyer or carrier to operate satisfactorily, means must be provided for directing the bagasse as it flows from between rolls 16 and 17 into the conveyer. To accomplish this there is provided an upper scraper plate 20, having a scraper tip 21 detachably connected thereto and a lower scraper plate 22 having a scraper tip 23 attached thereto. The scraper tip 21 is positioned to cooperate with upper roll 16 to remove the bagasse therefrom and to direct the bagasse into the conveyor or carrier. The scraper tip 23 is positioned to cooperate with lower roll 17, to remove bagasse therefrom and direct it into the carrier. The scraper In order for the con plate 20 is rigidly secured, in any desired manner. to the bar 525, which extends substantially parallel to the several axes of rolls 15-, 16 and 17. and is ot a length corresponding to the length of these rolls. This bar at each end is turned down to be substantially circular in cross section, as shown in dotted lines at 26, these cylindrical ends being fitted wi tip in rectangular blocks .27, each block bc n bored to hav! a running tit on the cylindrical ends 26. Each of these blocks is slidably mounted within the rectangular slot 28, in the bearing member 29, which bearing member is supported by a plate 30, provided with suitable bolt holes for attachment to any corvenient portion of the mill-roll housing. As shown. the plate 30 is preferably provided with elongated slots 31 adapted to receive attaching bolts by means of which arrangem nt the setting ot the plates may be varied to give the generally desired setting ot the scraper plates. Mounted upon the bar inside oi each of the bearings 29, is a lever or arm 40, preferably extending a substantial dis nice away from the mill rolls.

Attached to the lower scraper plate is a bar 45, at each end of which is attached a lever or arm 46, of substantially the same size and shape as the upper lever or arm 40. T he bar is suitably supported, at opposite ends. in bearing members '17 which are provided with mounting slots similar to arrangement and function to the slots 31 described above. Extending through a suitable opening or passage 50 in each of the levers 40 and 46 is a belt: 51, the upper end of which extends a. considerable distance beyond lever 40 and is surrounded by a spring 53. At its extreme upper end the rod 51 is loosely provided ith a plate 54 held by an adjusting nut 55 threaded 1y mounted on the red, against which one end of the spring 53 bears. The rod is also surrounded by a bearing plate 56, against which the lower end of the spring 53 rests. This plate 56 is also provided with a knife-edge bearing 57. held in contact with the end of the lever 40 by means of the spring.

Attached to the upper scraper plate 20 is a hinged extension 60. the constructi on being such that as the bagasse passes into the conveyer, this extension 60 will. be always l eld. in contact with the top plate of the carrier or chute to thus prevent loss of cane over the to scraper plate.

uring operation of the device it is desirable that the scraper tips 21 and 23 shall be maintained at all times in contact with cooperating rolls 16 and 17. The spring 53 tends to move the opposite ends ot the levers 40 and 46 toward each other. This causes the scraper tip 23 to rock into contact with roll 17 and at the same time slides the block 27 in the bearing 29, to swing the upper scrairer plate 20 about the tip of the scraper tip 21 as a fulcrum, thus insuring proper contact between the scra er tip 21 and its cooperating roll 16. As the bagasse moves from between the rolls 16 and 17 it will in general be in greater volume than may readily pass between the scraper plates when those plates are in inoperative position. The pressure of the cane on the upper scraper plate 20 therefore causes that plate to move upwardly carrying the bar 25 and the block 27 with it, and pivoting about the scraper tip 21. as a fulcrum. As the scraper moves upward it thus provides increased opening for the pass ot cane between the two scraper tips, the upper scrap or under such circumstances assuming a posi tion, for illustration, such as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. At the same time this causes lever 40 to move away from the lever 46 thus compressing spring 53. As a result there is a constantly increasing resistance to outward movement of the scraper plate 20 and therefore a constantly increased pressure on the mat of cane as the quantity of bagasse increases. Exact position of the scrapers and plates during operation will be determined by the thiclv'ness ot mat of bagasse and the stittncss of the springs and may be anywhere between the full inmost position, which is shown generally in full lines in Fig. 2 and full outmost position which is shown generally in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

In actual practice the spring 53 would probably be longer and also ot larger diameter than is shown on the drawing when used with other parts of the proportions shown, in order to properly take care of the considerable movement of parts that will. take place. It is to be borne in mind that the mill rolls 16 and 17 in a large-size standard apparatus would probably have a diameter of 34 to 36 inches and an effective length of about 7 ft. Furthermore the cane as it passes between the rolls 16 and 17 will. probably be subjected to a pressure of from 4:00 to 600 tons. Naturally, as soon as this pressure is released the mat of bagassc commences to expand considerably and the passage between plates 20 and 22 must necessarily be considerably larger than passage between the rolls l6 and 17.

It is (WlClCllt therefore that there may be considerable movement of plates 20 and 22 with respect to each other. However, the question of proper proportion of these parts is one that must be worked out in connection with each particular installation, inasmuch as rolls of various sizes operating under widely varying conditions are used in practice. The drawing herewith is merely intended to illustrate the general construction and an rangement of the parts, and the exact proportions will have to be worked out to it the particular needs. However, this is purely a mechanical matter and anyone generally skilled in construction and operation oi? sugaranill operation could readily determine suitable sizes and proportions.

7 of accomplishing this. If desired, both tips .21 and may be detachably connected to their respective scraper slates so that after they have worn suthciently to make it desir able they may be readily replaced by neo scraper tips. By varying the angle or" the slot within which the block :7 slides, any desired final angle between the plates can be secured.

It is not essential that the two levers land 46 shall be connected together by means of the bolt 51. If desired these levers may be completely unconnected. For example, as shown in Fig. 4, a spring may be provided for cooperation with the lever 46 to hold the plate 23 against its cooperating roll; and a spring 71, one end of which rests against any suitable fixed abutment 72, the other end of which bears against the end of the lever 40 may be used in connection with the upper lever 40. The operation of this form of a device would be the same as described above.

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preterred embodiments of the invention, it is to be und rstood that the invention is not limited to these precise terms of apparatus, and that changes may be made in either without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

l vhat is claimed is:

1. In an intermediate chute for sugar mills and the like; pivotally mounted scrap 2r members, means tending to rotate said scraper members upon their pivot mountings, and means to permit said scraper members to separate under pressure ot the material passin g between the a per members themselves.

2. In an intermediate chute for sugar mills and the like; scraper members, pivotal mountings therefor, supporting means for said pivotal mountings one of the pivotal mountings being constructed to permit bodily movement of such mounting and ot the scraper member supported thereby independently of its associated supporting means, and means for urging said scraper members toward each other.

In an intermediate chute tor sugar mills and the like; scraper members, pivotal mountings therefor, supporting means for said pivotal mountings one of the pivotal mountings bein constructed to permit bodily movement of such mounting and the scraper member supported thereby independently of its associated supporting means, and means for urging such scraper members toward each other and for rotation on their pivotal mountings.

4.. In an intermediate chute for sugar mills and the like, comprising a plurality of crushing rolls; pivotally mounted scraper members associated therewith, means tending to rotate said scraper members on their pivots to urge the tip of each scraper member against its cooperating roll, and yielning means for urging the said scraper members toward each other independently of movement of said crushing rolls.

In an intermediate chute for sugar mills and the like, comprising a plurality of crushing rolls; pivotally mounted scraper members associated with said rolls, one of said scraper members being bodily movable upon its pivotal mounting independently of movement of its associated crushing roll, means tending to rotate the scraper members on their pivots to urge the tip of each scraper member against its cooperating roll, and yielding means for urging the bodily movable scraper member toward the other scraper iember.

6. In an intermediate chute for sugar mills and the like, comprising a plurality of crushing rolls; upper and lower scraper members, pivotal bear-i1 for each scraper member, and supporting members for said bearings, one of tl e said bearings comprising means movably mounted on its supporting member.

In an intermediate chute for sugar mills and the like, comprising a plurality of crush- 7 ing rolls; upper and lower scraper members, pivotal bearings for each scraper member, and supporting members for said bearings, one bearing comprising a sliding block mounted on its supporting member.

8. In an intern'iediate chute for sugar mills and the like, comprising a plurality of crushing rolls; up per and lower scraper members, pivotal bearings for each scraper member, supporting members for said bearings, one i of the said bearings comprising means slid-' ably mounted on its supporting member, and yielding means for resisting sliding movement thereof in one direction.

9. In an intermediate chute for sugar mills and the like, con'iprising a plurality of crushing rolls; upper and lower scraper members, slidable bearing means for supporting said upper scraper member, said bearing means being so mounted as to be independent of, movement of the associated crushing roll, and means for urging the slidablc bearings and upper scraper member toward the lower s raper member.

10. In an intermediate chute for sugar mills and the like, comprising a plurality of crushing rolls; upper and lower scraper members associated with said rolls, bearing means for supporting the upper scraper member constructed to permit bodily movement 0t. said upper scraper member with respect to the lower scraper member independently of movement of its associated crushing roll, and means for urging the upper scraper member toward the lower scraper member.

11. In an intermediate chute for sugar mills and the like, comprising a plurality of crushing rolls; scraper members associated with said rolls, and bearings for supporting each of said scraper members, the bearings for supporting the upper scraper member comprising a supporting member, a slidablc bearing block carried by said supporting member. and means cooperating with the upper scraper member for urging the said sliding block toward the lower scraper member and for moving the upper scraper member about its bearing to bring its tip into contact with its associated roll.

12. In an intermediate chute for sugar mills and the like, con'iprising a plurality of crushing rolls: upper and lower scraper members associated with said rolls, bearings for pivotally supporting the said scraper members. that bearing supporting the upper scraper member comprising a supporting member and a slidable bearing block carried thereby. and means cooperating with the scraper members for urging the sliding block toward the lower scraper member and for rotating both scraper members about their pivotal hearings to bring the tips of the said members into contact with their respective cooperating rolls.

13. In an intermediate chute for sugar mills and the like, comprising a plurality of crushing rolls upper and lower scraper members associated with said rolls, bearings for ivotall v supporting the said scraper members, that hearing supporting the upper scraper member comprising a supporting member and a slidable bearing block carried thereby. and means cooperating with the scraper members for urging the sliding block toward the lower scraper member, and. for rotating both scraper members about their pivotal hearings to brin the tips of the said members into contact with their respective cooperating rolls.sai(l means comprising arms carried by the sc 'aper members and spring means cooperating with said arms.

14. In an intermediate chute for sugar mills and the like; pivotally mounted scraper members. means tending to rotate said scrap er members upon their pivot mountings, means to permit said scraper members to separate under pressure of the material passing between the scraper members themselves, and an extension plate pivotally connected to one of the scraper members.

15. In an intermediate chute for sugar mills and the like, pivotally mounted scraper members. means tending to rotate said scraper members about their pivotal mountings, supporting means for said pivotal mountings means to permit bodily movement of one of said scraper members away from or toward said other scraper member independently of its supporting means, a chute end associated with said scraper members and adapted to receive bagassc passing therefrom, and an we tension plate having a tree pivotal connection with said bodily movable scraper member and positioned in feeding relation with said chute end.

In testimony whereof I hereto atlix my signature.

GEORGE I. THEILE. 

